Goa : Police complaint lodged against IBN-Lokmat’s Nikhil Wagle

February 25, 2011

Magh Krushna Ashtami, Kaliyug Varsha 5112

Mapusa (Goa): There have been several incidents of temple-damaging so far taken place in Goa. Despite giving evidence in this respect, IBN Lokmat news channel’s editor Mr. Nikhil Wagle made a false statement in the program titled ‘Aaj cha Sawaal’ that no such incident had occurred in Goa and hurt religious sentiments of Hindus. A complaint has been lodged to the above effect on behalf of ‘Gomantak Mandir and Dharmik Sanstha Mahasangh (Mahasangh)’ by its President Mr. Chandrakant (Bhai) Pundit at Mapusa police station.

A demand has been made by ‘Mahasangh’ that the statement made by Mr. Wagle is likely to create law and order problem in Goa and action should be taken against him. Mr. Narayan Rathavad, the secretary of ‘Mahasangh’ and the President of Sree Sateri Devsthan at Mapusa, Mr. Jayesh Thali, the coordinator of ‘Mahasangh’ for Goa, Mr. Niranjan Chodankar of Hindu Janajagruti Samiti, Mr. Dinesh Patil and Mr. Shrikant Parsekar , devout Hindus from Hanjun were present on the occasion. Advocate Mr. Sarvadnya Patil extended assistance in lodging the complaint. Mr. Abhay Vartak, the spokesperson of Sanatan Sanstha had raised a point on idol-damaging in this program pointing out to Mr. Wagle that all proofs were already submitted to the news channel when Mr. Wagle had accused him of telling lies and that all the pictures so submitted were prepared with computer trick.

After the above program, the ‘Mahasangh’ had sent all the information of temple and idol damaging cases to Mr. Wagle demanding to render apology to all Hindus from Goa for such statement made by him. Mr. Wagle, however, paid no heed to the representation made by the ‘Mahasangha’ and did not render apology either. He thus, shirked from his responsibility as a journalist to find out the truth. This shows his hatred towards Hindu Dharma. He has stuck to his false statement and has overall shown no concern towards the subject.

All devotees should boycott the news channel like IBN Lokmat for publishing false news, was the opinion expressed by the office bearers of the ‘Mahasangh’ who had gone to lodge the complaint.

Mumbai (Maharashtra) : In a program telecast on the channel IBN Lokmat, Mr. Nikhil Wagle, the program host of ‘Aaj chaa Sawwal’ and Editor of the channel seized the right of Mr. Abhay Vartak, the spokesperson of Sanatan Sanstha of presenting the truth before the people by creating obstacles and treated him very insultingly so that he had to leave the program in between. HMM condemns this incident. It seems that Nikhil Wagle does not want social harmony. He has been constantly misusing the media which is helping the evils in society trying to create social discord. The press Council and other organizations should think over the above and what remedial measures should be taken needs to be decided.

Miscreants have undertaken a drive to damage Hindu temples in Goa for the past few years, said Mr. Vartak and news to that effect has been published in ‘Dainik Sanatan Prabhat’ which is the mouth-piece of the organization represented by him as its spokesperson. ‘Tarun Bharat’, ‘Goa-doot’ and ‘Lokmat’ newspapers published from Goa have also printed such news on number of occasions. But Mr. Wagle claiming that there was no proof of the said incidents, without even verifying the proofs presented by Mr. Vartak in this regard, just accused Mr. Vartak of telling lies and misusing the platform. There are certain etiquettes to be observed by journalists that whenever there are complaints received from certain faction of the society about attacks on religious symbols/ signs, the facts should be verified without disturbing the faith of such faction in the judiciary. A renowned historian and philosopher from Belgium Mr. Conrad Elst has accused the international media of hatching a plot of ignoring contentions of Hindus. Some political leaders are trying to impress upon the people, with the help of Government machinery, that ‘Hindu terrorism’ exists in India which is more dangerous than ‘Islamic’ terrorism. These are the incidents which are disturbing social harmony and balance of mind of the young Indian generation working hard towards taking their country to a position of being a superpower. In this background, enquiry should be conducted of the unjust treatment given by Mr. Wagle to Mr. Vartak and action should be taken so that Wage is always reminded of the high tradition created by the Marathi and overall Indian journalism. A meeting was held by HMM on 5th February in Utkarsh Mandal which was attended by Mr. Ravi Nathani, Makarand Mahadik, Satyaprakash Mishra, Sharad Mistry and Arvind Kulkarni. The above demands were made and views were expressed in this meeting.

New Delhi : The manner in which the program-host Nikhil Wagle behaved during the program called ‘Aaj cha Sawaal’ telecast on IBN Lokmat channel on 21st January cannot be justified. Even the said channel would not probably be able to justify the same and if it does, then it will be very harmful for the media. The above views were expressed by Mr. Suresh Chavanke, the President and Editor of ‘Sudarshan News’, a Hindi news channel. He condemned Nikhil Wagle while talking about the program. He said further, “I watched this program. I was shocked to see the manner in which Wagle was talking that no incident involving breaking of idols had taken place in Goa; or he claimed that it was false or a visual computer trick. It is, in fact, the duty of media to bring out truth; but some media publish news related to Hindus in such a way that it would benefit certain political parties. This is very wrong. The media should restrict their activities to placing truth before people.”

Hindu Rastra Sena condemns ‘IBN-Lokmat’ in a Sabha !

February 6, 2011

Magh Shukla Trutiya, Kaliyug Varsha 5112

Issue related to ‘IBN-Lokmat’ falsely accusing Sanatan

900 Hindus present for the Sabha

Mumbai: Nikhil Wagle, Editor of ‘IBN-Lokmat’ a news channel, invited Mr. Abhay Vartak, spokesperson for Sanatan Sanstha, for a discussion show and falsely accused Sanatan by saying ‘Sanatan Sanstha publishes false news with the intention of creating a division in the society.’This accusation was strongly condemned by Hindu Rastra Sena at a Sabha organized at Vile Parle. 900 proud Hindus were present for the Sabha.

Mr. Sagar Sonawane, Hindu Rasta Sena’s New Mumbai Chief for Contact, said on this occasion, “Anti Hindu Newspapers and TV channels have repeatedly publish anti-righteous and anti-country related news in order to insult proud Hindus and patriots of our country. No amount of condemnation is enough for them. Among these Mr. Wagle is a journalist with a corrupt mind. The Supreme Court cancelled the death penalty and in turn issued a life-imprisonment penalty to Dara Singh. This irritated Wagle and he arranged for a discussion show on this matter. He never thought of arranging a discussion show to protest on issues like delayed death penalty of Mohammad Afzal and the pampering of Kasab. Wagle’s act of targeting Mr. Vartak, a righteous Hindu activist and behaving rudely with him is highly condemnable. The time has come to change the name of TV channel ‘IBN-Lokmat’ to ‘IBN-Rasta Drohi Mat’.”

Next Mr. Maruti Khedaskar, an ex-corporator who quit Nationalist Congress party in disgust and joined Hindu Rastra Sena, express his views candidly. He said, “In Hindustan anti-Hindu, in other words anti-national plots are being hatched. If these plots have to be stopped and regain the past glory of Bharat then there is no alternative to Hindutva and unification of Hindus. Rest of my life will be devoted to the cause of Hindutva and its protection.” Mr. Raju Rondhal, official of Hindu Rastra Sena, also expressed his views on love for nation.

Congratulations and thanks to Hindu Rastra Sena for condemning ‘IBN-Lokmat’ for insulting Sanatan Sanstha and all proud Hindus !

Demonstrations at Ramnath (Dist. Raigad) against IBN – Lokmat

Ramnath (Dist. Raigad, Maharashtra): One starts thinking whether it is ‘Lokmat (opinion of people)’ or ‘Chukmat (wrong opinion)’ when one thinks about the acts of Nikhil Wagle. We condemn such journalism which ignores religious sentiments of Hindus. The above views were expressed by Mr. Ashok Patil, the Founder of ‘Bhrashtachar Nirmulan Patrak’. He was talking in a meeting with the demonstrators at ‘Jogalekar Naka’ gathered to oppose anti-Hindu policy of IBN Lokmat.

Mr. Abhay Vartak, the spokesperson of Sanatan Sanstha was invited as a Hindu representative in the program ‘Aaj chaa Sawaal’ telecast on 21st January. In this program, Mr. Nikhil Wagle, the editor of IBN Lokmat accused Mr. Vartak of telling lies about temples damaged in Goa; thus rubbing salt on wounds of Hindus. There was strong protest registered against this insult. Mr. Santosh Mhatre of Sree Sampradaya said, “Hindus should unite and raise voice against the incidents of attacks on their seats of worship.” Mr. Rajesh Patil, the taluka-chief of MNS, Mr. Prakash Malondkar of Hindu Janajagruti Samiti, Mr. Suresh Sawant of Sanatan Sanstha and several RSS members took part in the demonstrations.

Panaji (Goa): The Government gives information to its MLAs about attacks on temples in Goa; but IBN Lokmat’s Editor Wagle prefers to believe that there was no such attack on temples in Goa. There is a need to protest against Wagle. The above open appeal was made by Mr. Dayanand Mandrekar, BJP MLA while expressing his opinion on the address of the Governor.

MLA Mandrekar said, “I saw the program ‘Aaj cha Sawaal’ on IBN Lokmat. Mr. Abhay Vartak was presenting the topic of attacks on Hindu temples in Goa; but Wagle claimed that temples were not attacked in Goa. It is however, a fact, that incidents of idol-breaking and theft are taking place. Today, the Government of Goa has failed to provide protection to temples. Wagle has no knowledge about what is happening in Goa. Recently, there was an attempt of theft in a temple at Verla-Kanka. A person staying near the temple got the wind of the theft and he immediately informed the police; but the thief had collected money from the donation box as the police came. He took off his shirt, handed it to the police and ran away. Police could not nab the thief. How can such police protect the temples?”

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